A Nation of Immigrants
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"You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.” ~Ronald Reagan
My dad loved studying genealogy. As a result, I know my lineage back to, well, actually some of the signers of the Magna Carta. I have ancestors on both my mother and father’s side, who were English colonists in Massachusetts and Virginia. Dad was even a member of the Jamestown Society. Having recently moved to North Carolina, I was surprised to learn that one of my ancestors was Benjamin Merrill. He was an American military officer, gunsmith and planter who served in the militia of Rowan County, North Carolina. He sided with the Regulator Movement in North Carolina, and was captured following the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771. Shortly thereafter, he was executed as a rebel by Governor William Tryon. This rebellion even pre-dated the Boston Tea Party!
Even my most recent immigrating ancestor (my great-grandfather) was born back in 1851 in Wales. My family goes way back in this country. And while I’m proud of my ancestors and the contributions they have made to this country, I’m also cognizant they were probably involved with parts of our history, of which I’m not so proud. History is messy and complex, however, until recently we were moving to “a more perfect union.”
When I worked in the UK, one of the folks working for me was a bit an “elitist” and wanted to know my heritage. When I told him, he was clearly impressed, his eyes opened wide and said, “Oh. You’re one of THOSE Americans.” I was amused.
I guess I’m the type of American that Trump finds acceptable to be living in this country. Although given MTG’s recent insulting outburst against a Sky News’ reporter, maybe even being from England is on the outs with this administration.
The Ugly American
Although my ancestors may go back to the Colonial days, my current family is somewhat international. My brother is married to an Italian. My sister-in-law has had dual-citizenship for many years and my brother recently got his dual-citizenship with Italy. One niece is married to a German and their children are fluent in both German and English (all are dual-citizens). My other niece is in a relationship with a man from the Netherlands. One of my cousin’s daughters is married to a Chilean, another cousin’s daughter is married to a man also from the Netherlands.
When the family gets together, there are a lot of accents floating around. I really love it. It means we have interesting food, brilliant conversations and differing ideas about everything. Immigration enriches societies by introducing diverse perspectives, traditions, and cultures, leading to a more vibrant and dynamic society. Just as I learned in my own family, immigration fosters connections between people from different backgrounds, promoting understanding and cooperation on a global scale.
I think this is what America has represented: E pluribus unum — one of many.
Immigration has been a key to the strength of America. Immigrants have played a crucial role in building and maintaining critical infrastructure in the U.S., including railroads, roads, canals, bridges, and facilities for renewable energy, utilities, transportation, and housing. In the mid-19th century, new immigrants were the ready source of labor to unload ships, to build roads and canals, and to transport goods. Chinese and Irish workers were instrumental in building the transcontinental railroad. The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by German immigrant John Augustus Roebling and built by a workforce largely comprised of Irish, German, and Italian immigrants. The Empire State Building was largely built by Irish and Italian immigrant laborers, with a significant number of Mohawk ironworkers from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal.
Each subsequent generation has contributed and helped to build this economy and way of life. Today population levels are decreasing and those countries with rigid immigration policies are declining economically. Immigration can help address demographic challenges, such as an aging population, by providing a younger workforce.
Here are some key FACTS about immigrants in the United States:
In 2023, 14.3% of the US population was foreign-born, totaling 46 million people. Immigration drove economic growth by increasing the supply of labor, boosting consumer spending, and fostering innovation.
Economic Contributions:
Workforce: Immigrants make up over 19% of the US workforce, with many participating in the labor force at a higher rate than native-born workers. Immigrants often fill labor shortages in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, hospitality, and construction, boosting overall economic productivity.
Foreign-born workers make up 68% of the agricultural workforce.
Immigrants comprise 18% to 20% of the total healthcare workforce. Immigrants account for around 26% to 28% of physicians and surgeons and about 16% to 27.5% of registered nurses. Immigrants constitute a substantial 38% to 40% of home health aides.
It’s estimated that 20-30% of the construction workers are immigrants.
Even Mar-a-Lago relies on foreign nationals to work as servers, cooks and housekeepers. Just last winter, Mar-a-Lago hired 91 foreign workers, according to records filed with the Department of Labor.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Immigrants are more likely to start businesses and contribute to innovation. In 2024, 46% or 230 of the Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Immigrants are overrepresented among entrepreneurs, accounting for 23.6% of them. Fortune 500 Companies with Immigrant Roots Generated More Money Than the GDP of Most Western Nations. Immigrants account for 23.6% of STEM workers.
Tax Revenue: Immigrants contribute to government revenue through taxes, including income, sales, and property taxes, which can help fund public services. Immigrants contribute significantly to state, local, and federal taxes, including undocumented immigrants. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants in the U.S. collectively increased U.S. housing wealth by trillions of dollars.
And despite what this administration and FauxNews would like people to believe: studies show that immigrants have lower crime rates than natives in the United States. Debunking the Myth of Immigrants and Crime
The American Immigration Council compared crime data to demographic data from 1980 to 2022, the most recent data available. The data showed that as the immigrant share of the population grew, the crime rate declined. In 1980, immigrants made up 6.2 percent of the U.S. population, and the total crime rate was 5,900 crimes per 100,000 people. By 2022, the share of immigrants had more than doubled, to 13.9 percent, while the total crime rate had dropped by 60.4 percent, to 2,335 crimes per 100,000 people. Specifically, the violent crime rate fell by 34.5 percent and the property crime rate fell by 63.3 percent.
Who can forget the disgraceful rumor that Trump promoted about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio?
Throughout our history, immigration has been issue. Nativist movements have emerged, fueled by fears about immigrants taking jobs, lowering wages, and undermining American culture. Immigrants have faced widespread discrimination and prejudice. Legislation has been passed to impede immigration, for example:
Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798: These laws made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and allowed for deportation, reflecting a fear of immigrants undermining national security.
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: This act barred Chinese immigrants from entering the country, a landmark example of discriminatory immigration policy.
Immigration Act of 1924: This act introduced quotas, further restricting immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe.
The last comprehensive immigration reform was enacted almost four decades ago, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Passing effective immigration reforms has been a challenge with many administrations. The most recent bill in 2024, that was negotiated with bi-partisan support, was intentionally tanked by Trump. I thought this article was very informative in understanding the immigration issue: The collapse of bipartisan immigration reform: A guide for the perplexed.
“The fact is Canadians understand that immigration, that people fleeing for their lives, that people wanting to build a better life for themselves and their kids is what created Canada, it's what created North America.” ~ Justin Trudeau
One of the lessons, that I learned at a very young age with my global family, was that immigrants miss their homeland tremendously and have had to adapt and learn to adjust to a very different way of life. All of them long to be geographically closer to their families. A couple of my family members are living in Europe, so I know they miss their American life and families as well.
The vast majority of people, who immigrate to this country would more than likely rather remain in their own home country, if it were safe or if the opportunities were available. Some have walked miles in dangerous terrains and risked their lives for economic and personal freedom. They come to build a better life for their families. That is our story. The immigrant’s ability to adapt and change is one of the reasons our country has become a superpower. Traditionally, our country has been bold, future looking, enriched and adaptable because of our immigration population.
Demonizing and driving immigrants out shows weakness — not strength. It creates isolation not understanding. To quote Reagan again, “If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.”
Maybe this administration should learn to build bridges rather than erecting walls.
“Nearly all Americans have ancestors who braved the oceans – liberty-loving risk takers in search of an ideal – the largest voluntary migrations in recorded history… Immigration is not just a link to America’s past; it’s also a bridge to America’s future.” ~ George H.W. Bush
April 5, 2025. Hands Off 2025 Spread the word…
Thought for the day in honor of her birthday…
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”
― Maya Angelou
Must Read Article:
How Tariffs Destroy What Makes America Great
Trump is building walls. His trade policies obstruct not only the flow of goods but also the flow of ideas, contacts, technology and friendships as well. His immigration policies do the same. He assaults the institutions and communities most involved in international exchange: scientific researchers, universities, the diplomatic corps, foreign aid agencies and international alliances like NATO.
The essence of the Trump agenda might be: We don’t like those damn foreigners.
The problem is that great nations throughout the history of Western civilization have been crossroads nations. They have been places where people from all over met, exchanged ideas and came up with new ones together…
All that is being damaged. But that’s not even my main concern. My main concern is over the spirit and values of the country. People’s psychologies are formed by the conditions that surround them. The conditions that Trump is creating are based on and nurture a security mind-set: they’re threatening us; it’s a zero-sum, dog-eat-dog world; we need to protect, protect, protect. We need to build walls.
Quote of the day:
“Yes, the torch of Lady Liberty symbolizes our freedom and represents our heritage, the compact with our parents, our grandparents, and our ancestors. It is that lady who gives us our great and special place in the world. For it's the great life force of each generation of new Americans that guarantees that America's triumph shall continue unsurpassed into the next century and beyond. Other countries may seek to compete with us; but in one vital area, as a beacon of freedom and opportunity that draws the people of the world, no country on earth comes close.
This, I believe, is one of the most important sources of America's greatness. We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation.
While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.”
~Ronald Reagan
What I’m reading today…
The Makeup Artist Donald Trump Deported Under the Alien Enemies Act
Andry eventually passed his preliminary asylum screening. Officials determined that he demonstrated a “credible fear” of persecution in his home country. … the immigration judge wanted to know why the government wasn’t making him available. “He was removed to El Salvador,” the ICE lawyer replied. “We just found out today.” This surprised the judge, who was there to determine whether or not Andry should be deported. “How can he be removed to El Salvador,” the judge asked, “if there’s no removal order?”
In the past two months, the administration has attempted to end birthright citizenship, declared an invasion at the southern border, suspended asylum processing, restored the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and deployed the U.S. military to guard the border and send deportees to Guantánamo Bay. Trump has enlisted nearly every federal law-enforcement agency to help with his mass-deportation campaign, a mobilization akin to a wartime effort.
But Abrego Garcia was mistakenly added to a flight manifest as an alternate, and when others were removed from the list and he moved up, “The manifest did not indicate that Abrego Garcia should not be removed.”
So, now he’s in a hellhole of a prison in El Salvador at taxpayer expense. That’s your money and my money at work. The affidavit calls it “an administrative error,” an “oversight,” and says that “the removal was carried out in good faith.” I doubt that’s much consolation to Mr. Abrego Garcia and his family.
Michigan immigrant father arrested by ICE outside school after dropping off child
Born in Mexico, Jaimes has lived for 30 years in the U.S., starting his own painting business that supports his wife and five children. Now, they're scrambling to find out what may happen to him and how they will continue their lives without his support, both emotionally and financially. Records show Jaimes was booked in St. Clair County Jail, but with no criminal charges and an immigration hold. He appears to have no criminal record or cases pending in Wayne County courts, records show.
In Aurora, Colo., a Split Over the Biggest Threat to the City: Migrants or Trump?
Trump has made Aurora a national shorthand for migrant crime after declaring repeatedly that the vast Denver suburb, population 400,000 and Colorado’s third-largest city, had been taken over by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He pointed to a viral video of armed men stalking the halls of one of three rundown complexes where hundreds of immigrants had settled.
Trump christened his plan to expel them Operation Aurora, even as the city’s conservative Republican mayor protested that Aurora had not been taken over by Tren de Aragua, and the police chief said Aurora had arrested people suspected of gang activity and had the matter under control.
Now, as Trump ramps up his crackdown by invoking wartime powers to deport hundreds of Venezuelans without court hearings, Aurora is split over which poses a greater threat: undocumented immigrants, or Trump.
The Retired J.P. Morgan Executive Tracking Trump’s Deportation Flights
The first person to alert the public that the flights would actually take place was not an official or a lawyer or a journalist, but a retired J.P. Morgan executive living in Ohio named Tom Cartwright. “TWO HIGHLY UNUSUAL ICE flights showing up now from Harlingen to El Salvador,” he wrote on social media, noting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had taken that route, flying out of a city in southern Texas, only once during the past month and a half. “Venezuelan deportation??”
Some Conservative Voices Raise Alarm Over Trump’s Immigration Tactics
Influential figures on the right have largely cheered on the opening months of the Trump presidency. But as the administration has rushed to carry out deportations as quickly as possible, making mistakes and raising concerns about due process along the way, the unified front in favor of President Trump’s immigration purge is beginning to crack. When the administration deported a professional makeup artist and accused him of being part of a criminal gang, the enormously popular podcaster Joe Rogan balked.
Trump-Approved Immigration Reform? Biz Leaders Are Still Dreaming.
It doesn’t take a historian or immigration lawyer to identify problems with the reading of the current political moment. While Trump is delivering on promises to close the border and go after gang members, the administration has also taken a wrecking ball to the immigration system, gutting asylum, refugee, and temporary protected status programs while embarking on an authoritarian dream sequence that includes shipping Venezuelan men who have common tattoos but, in many cases, no criminal records to Guantánamo Bay or a brutal Salvadoran prison.
How Would We Build Homes Without Immigrant Labor and Foreign Materials?
Almost 70 percent, or $40,000, of the foundation budget, went to labor. About 90 percent of the crew were immigrants. Without them, his labor costs could swell to $49,800. In 2023, the United States became the world’s largest importer of cement, a key ingredient for concrete. Conservatively, tariffs could drive up the costs for the house construction by 18 percent.
A book I highly recommend…
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
One of my favorite novels — I couldn’t put it down. Other than being a great story, I learned so much about the immigration experiences, attitudes and policies for Chinese immigrants in the mid-19th century.
What I read every day…
Thank you - well said